METHOD FOR PRODUCING FATTY ACID ALKYL ESTER AND PRODUCTION SYSTEM THEREFOR

摘要

Provided is a method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester, whereby a high yield of the fatty acid alkyl ester can be achieved without requiring any special equipment and a fatty acid alkyl ester phase can be separated from a glycerin phase within an extremely short period of time. Also provided is a production system therefor. A method for producing a fatty acid alkyl ester which comprises subjecting a starting oil to an ester exchange reaction with a lower alkyl alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to form the fatty acid alkyl ester, wherein the ester exchange reaction step is performed in a homogeneous phase system by adding an organic solvent selected from acetone, isopropanol and a mixture thereof to the reaction system.